We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single mother of one and I have been depending on casual work in the neighborhood for survival. I usually work on people's farms and sometimes help them in fetching water and I would get paid KES 100 at the end of the day. This was always not enough for our basic needs since I buy everything ranging from maize flour to milk which costs KES 20 for half a liter. Due to this, I decided to spend KES 20000 from my transfer to start up a business of buying and selling shoes in our neighboring town and KES 25000 on the purchase of a heifer. when it reproduces, I will earn some money through the sale of milk after setting aside some for our consumption. Using the remaining KES 9000, I bought some food and clothes for my son and me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I used to work on people's farms for survival before receiving funds from GiveDirectly and I would at times leave my son with one of my neighbors. Due to this, I always felt that I was not living up to my responsibilities as a parent since I did not have food to leave behind and I would depend on my neighbor's grace. Ever since I received my transfer, my life has changed since I am self-dependent and I go to work with my son. Because of this, I know that I will earn some money at the end of the day and I will not sleep on an empty stomach. I am and will forever remain grateful to GiveDirectly for the positive impact in my life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes past 11 pm and I had retired to bed when I received a message notification on my phone. I decided to read its contents as it was abnormal for me to receive an SMS at that hour. My heart was filled with joy on seeing its contents and I whispered a word of prayer to thank God for the money that would change my life for the better.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I currently reside in my parents' compound, after they gave me an abandoned house to live in with my 1 year old son 6 months ago, due to the reason that I am old enough to fend for my child. I engage in casual jobs such as fetching water, firewood and tilling people's farms for pay. These kind of jobs aren't reliable, hence supporting my household needs is the biggest challenge I face on a daily basis.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Taking care of my 1 year old son single handedly has been a real struggle to me since I have no reliable job to engage in. I had never bought him clothes since he was born, but only depended on well wishers to donate their children's old clothes. I was however a proud mother a month ago, after I managed to buy him new clothes from my earnings after tilling a neighbour's farm.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means self independence to me. The house I live in is within my parents' compound and I have been aspiring to buy my own land and build a house in it. I will therefore use KES 40000 to buy a 0.2 acre piece of land and spend KES 30000 to build a two roomed iron roofed house, and KES 10000 to build a kitchen. I will then spend the remaining KES 25000 to buy a lactating cow, hence an assurance of some daily income from selling milk.
